By Peter Duru
MAKURDI— Benue State government has said it would require about N2.6 billion to pay the new minimum wage for workers in the 23 local government councils in the state.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Solomon Wombo, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Makurdi.

He added that the government had already worked out modalities to ensure implementation of the new wage from the end of December.

He said: “All local government workers will benefit from the wage, but we will ensure that those who have reached retirement age are retired while the ghost workers draining the resources of the councils are also checked.”